ODU Advanced Military Connectors for soldier modernisation programmes

ODU, a worldwide leader in designing and manufacturing high-performance connector solutions and cable assemblies, is announcing that it has extended the range of ODU AMCadvanced connector solutions.

Designed especially for military and security technology, ODU AMC is an advanced and highly reliable connector solution with push-pull locking or ‘snatch’ break-away function for the next-generation soldier communication systems.

This extremely robust metal circular connector series is designed for a large number of soldier modernization applications such as group voice and data radio, navigation module, soldier control unit, rugged computers and handheld devices, GPS antennae, military night vision devices, unmanned systems and land vehicles.

ODU AMCHigh-Density is a miniature connector designed for harsh environments. It is used extensively in soldier communications and Future Soldier Systems that require significant weight and space reduction such as: field radios, portable computers, night vision and digital scopes. The compact and lightweight connector offers high performance data transmission, high reliability and easy handling.

The ODU AMCwith Break-Away function was designed for connectors that need to be mated and unmated fast during usage. One pull on the cable is enough to unmate the connection. The plug incorporates a unique locking system with both mechanical and colour-keyed options. Some of the other product features are: lightweight, compact and easy to use (blind mating is also available), 5,000 mating cycles durability, operating temperature from -51° C (-60° F) to +125° C (+257° F), contacts for solder and PCB terminations.

ODU AMCEasy-Clean – The Easy Clean design was created using a unique spring-loaded pin system that allows for an easy-wipe flat receptacle surface, ensuring that contacts can be easily and quickly cleaned even in the harshest environments. The connector is watertight – to IP 68 and is available in three sizes, 7-19 contacts, with mechanical and colour-keying.

The ODU AMCsystem includes options for ‘hot-plugging’ and hybrid insert configurations, as well as protective caps and other accessories.

ODU also offers an integrated cable assembly service, including overmoulding.

ODU UK

For more than 75 years, ODU has designed customized premium connectors ensuring reliable transmission of power, signals, data, and media in demanding applications in the growth markets of medical, military & security and energy, as well as in established sectors such as industrial electronics, test & measurement, and automotive.

For more than 75 years, ODU has designed customized premium connectors ensuring reliable transmission of power, signals, data, and media in demanding applications in the growth markets of medical, military & security and energy, as well as in established sectors such as industrial electronics, test & measurement, and automotive.

In 1937, Otto Dunkel built the first ionospheric transmitters, broadcasting messages into the atmosphere, to be reflected to another location. Early transmissions presented many challenges, particularly with the plug contacts of the broadcasting system. Looking out his window one day, Otto saw a man with a twig-broom sweeping up leaves – giving him the idea for an entirely new contact – the springwire.

A year later Otto patented his invention: Now known around the world as ODU SPRINGTAC, offering connector technology on the highest technical level. Multiple, individually-operating, springwires are incorporated into each contact [even the smallest 0.76mm dia contact has 15 springwires] – each springwire in contact with the pin, ensuring extremely high mating cycles and stable low contact resistance.

ODU-MAC is a rectangular connector system offering almost limitless configurations. Reliable and compact, most ODU-MAC modules are based on ODU SPRINGTAC technology, ensuring high contact stability even under increased vibration.

Available in two formats – in a DIN housing for manual operation and in an aluminium frame as an automatic docking version. The contacts can be varied by the customer – using a configurator, backed-up by ODU technical support engineers.

Whether in connector technology for the Finnish state railway, in the analysis unit of heart catheter systems, or in pick-and-place machines, the ODU-MAC ensures reliable safety – customers report no failures in the docking version of the ODU-MAC even after one million mating cycles.

So, what’s new?

ODU have introduced a new, high-density version of their highly successful miniature AMC push-pull connector. With dia­meters from under 10 up to 18.5mm and contact densities of up to 40 contacts, this connector offer functionality and premium quality in a compact size. At the same time, these featherweights guarantee a highly robust connec­tion, convenient handling, and long service life. ODU is developing customized versions of these connectors to meet specific customer require­ments, and also offers cable assembly and over-moulding.